Many people are now enthusiastic about food therapy and medicinal diets, but Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) places great importance on the properties of food, classifying them into five natures: neutral, cold, cool, warm, and hot. It even requires coordination with the principles of Yin and Yang. However, no matter what you eat, the most important thing is to first consider whether these foods are suitable for you. Moreover, the suitability of food can change with one's physical condition—what suited you in the past may not suit you now or in the future; a food remedy that works for others may not be your best choice. Now, I will introduce ten foods that are suitable for detoxification and beauty enhancement in the autumn.
Smashed Cucumber Salad
Cucumber
According to the "Compendium of Materia Medica," cucumber has the effects of clearing heat, quenching thirst, promoting urination, and reducing swelling. Cucumber has crisp and tender flesh, is juicy and sweet, and its raw consumption can promote the production of body fluids to quench thirst, with a special aroma. Analysis shows that cucumbers are 98% water and are rich in nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamin B2, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotene, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and more.
Modern pharmacological research suggests that fresh cucumbers also contain malic acid, which can inhibit the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. Cucumbers also contain fiber, which helps promote intestinal peristalsis, accelerate excretion, and lower cholesterol. Cucumbers are very low in calories, making them an ideal dietary vegetable for people with high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and complicated obesity. Eating cucumbers can promote urination, helping to remove potentially harmful substances from the blood, such as uric acid. Cucumber is sweet and cool in nature, with the effects of clearing heat, promoting urination, and detoxifying. It has unique effects on chest heat and urination, and also has significant effects on removing dampness, lubricating the intestines, and relieving pain.
However, cucumbers are偏寒 (slightly cold), so people with weak spleen and stomach, or those who have been ill for a long time, should eat them in moderation. People with liver disease, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, and high blood pressure should not eat pickled cucumbers.
Black Fungus
Black fungus is sweet and neutral in nature, with effects such as detoxification, clearing the stomach and intestines, and promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding. Ancient records describe black fungus as "tonifying Qi, eliminating hunger, lightening the body, and strengthening the will." Black fungus is rich in carbohydrates, gelatin, cephalin, fiber, glucose, xylose, lecithin, carotene, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients, earning it the reputation of "the meat among vegetables."
The plant gelatin contained in black fungus has strong adsorption power, which can concentrate and adsorb dust and impurities remaining in the human digestive system and then excrete them, thereby playing a role in detoxifying and clearing the stomach. It also has the effect of nourishing the blood to preserve youth, making the skin ruddy and radiant, and can prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
Lotus Root
Lotus root has a diuretic effect, promoting the rapid discharge of waste from the body to purify the blood. Lotus root can be eaten both cold and hot. However, it should be noted that raw lotus root is cold in nature and has the effect of clearing heat and relieving vexation, making it especially suitable for patients with "acne" caused by blood heat. After cooking, it changes from cool to warm, with the effects of nourishing the stomach, nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen, and replenishing Qi and blood. It is an excellent food remedy, especially suitable for people with weak spleen and stomach, insufficient Qi and blood, who experience dry skin and a dull complexion. In addition, the nodes of the lotus root are a good medicine, with effects of strengthening the spleen and whetting the appetite, nourishing the blood, stopping bleeding, and improving complexion.
Sweet Potato
The fiber in sweet potatoes is soft and easy to digest, promoting intestinal peristalsis and aiding bowel movements. This is because it is rich in antioxidant vitamins C and beta-carotene, and more than twice the vitamin E found in brown rice. It also contains over 40% fiber, which can prevent constipation and expel old feces. The white juice (mucoprotein) in sweet potatoes has the effect of lowering cholesterol and blood lipids. Therefore, sweet potatoes can be considered one of the best foods for detoxification.
Mung Bean
Mung beans have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, removing dampness and promoting urination, relieving summer heat and quenching thirst. This is because mung beans are rich in vitamin B, glucose, protein, amylase, oxidase, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and other components. Regular consumption can help expel toxins from the body and promote normal metabolism. It is an excellent remedy for clearing heat and detoxification, with a delicate aroma suitable for all ages.
White Radish
White Radish Stewed with Pork
Radish has a good diuretic effect, and the fiber it contains can also promote bowel movements, which is beneficial for weight loss. If you want to use radish for detoxification, it is suitable to eat it raw. Radish is a medicinal food for all seasons, especially the effect of eating it raw is much better than after cooking. White radish can help digestion, stimulate intestinal peristalsis, and promote metabolism and the excretion of toxins in the body. It is especially suitable for people who do not exercise often and those who engage in intense mental work.
Red Bean
Red beans can increase intestinal peristalsis, reduce constipation, and promote urination. Red beans have the effects of calming the mind, strengthening the spleen, and benefiting the kidneys. Adding lotus seeds and lilies can further solidify essence, replenish Qi, stop bleeding, and strengthen bones and muscles. It can treat lung dryness and dry cough, enhance the vitality of internal organs, and increase physical strength.
Carrot
Carrots are very helpful for improving constipation and are rich in beta-carotene, which can neutralize toxins. Fresh carrots have a better detoxification effect. Carrots are an effective detoxifying food. They not only contain a large amount of carotene but also a large amount of vitamin A and pectin. After binding with mercury ions in the body, they can effectively reduce the concentration of mercury ions in the blood and accelerate their excretion from the body, making them very suitable for people who often stay up late.
Lemon
Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is considered an important ingredient for making whitening skincare products in the beauty industry, especially for whitening products launched in summer, where lemons are an indispensable star. Drinking a glass of lemon water can not only expel toxic substances from the body but also has a natural skin-whitening effect, helping to eliminate facial freckles.
Yogurt
Yogurt contains various vitamins, including vitamin C, which can reduce melanin formation, keeping the skin fair and white.
In addition to the foods introduced above, many daily foods are also rich in various vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, such as fresh vegetables and fruits. For example: cabbage, broccoli, garlic, onions, scallions, agar, cherries, grapes, strawberries, apples, pectin, tea, carrots, figs, kelp, etc. Reasonably choosing foods that suit you can all promote metabolism and have the effect of detoxifying and beautifying.
Stewed pork with white radish
Shoot the cucumber